, and

[Guest guest]

Hi and Everyone,

My gastro doc originally suggested carbonation to get the food to

go down better. Diet Coke was my soda of choice. I have noticed over

the years a significant difference between drinking soda with bubbles

versus plain water. If the sphincter is mostly closed (and whose isn't

these days?), water will just accumulate, whereas I can feel the

carbonation actually forcing the food thru to the stomach.

At home I always drink Caffeine free Diet Coke (the reason that

its diet is because of the quantity I drink, over 2 liters a day

easily). When we are out, the soda has caffeine in it, but I have yet

to notice any difference between the two as far as getting a kick from

the caffeine (sometimes I wish I would get that energy from it).

So for me, Diet Coke serves two purposes. It (usually) clears the

esophagus for eating, and it derails the spasms almost immediately. No

side effects from it. If, , my body someday rejected it, I'd

really be up the proverbial creek!

Incidentally, my " old wives " tail to clear the esophagus when I

get really stuck and food won't go up or down, and I can barely spit

out, is to jump up and down for a couple of minutes. I find that this

dislodges the food, and gives me much needed relief. As the food goes

down it must create some kind of an air pocket, since I will let out

(OK - time to laugh, or identify with me), an ear piercing hiccup. If

my wife and I ever get separated in a crowd, all I have to do is jump a

few times and she will find me from my hiccup! Each time the food

moves into the stomach, the same thing happens. Its like having a

built in " caller ID. " Perhaps I'm straying a little off-topic here,

but as bad as achalasia is, its not cancer or heart disease, so you try

to have a little sense of humor about it.

I would say, going forward, that I'll probably favor the diet coke

over the cola syrup, but will keep both around.

Tonia, I'm thrilled reading about your son's improvement and that

advice that came from this Board helped diffuse his esophageal spasm!

>

> Hey - interesting on the Cola thing. You don't have any

trouble with caffeine? That's one of the first things I had to give up.

Also - just a thought on the cola syrup/diet coke thing - is it maybe

the carbonation in the diet coke that works well for you? I know that

many years ago, I used to keep the small bottles of ginger ale on hand

for spasms but over time, I've lost my tolerance for carbonation and

don't drink soda anymore. Good luck and keep us posted.

>

> Happy Swallowing!

> - in Va.

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks Anita.

Please visit my new site, www.achalasia.us

, and

Great Site!

Anita from Pa.

[Guest guest]

I don't know how she does it but Harper always beats me to the punch and is

always spot-on.  I second everything she says.  Harper's responses are always

excellent and leave any I could make superfluous.  I thought just this once I

would indicate the value of what she says to everyone.  , I have heard

about UPMC; have you checked it out?

Kay

-Register to be an organ donor